City Comparison
Wheatland vs Rock Springs
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Wheatland scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Wheatland
Rock Springs
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Rock Springs is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
44% lower than in Wheatland.
| Metric | Wheatland | Rock Springs | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $850 | $846 | 0% |
| Groceries | $380 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $170 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $1,510 | $846 | +78% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Wheatland offers similar average salaries.
The minimum comfortable salary in Wheatland is estimated at
$45,000 vs $33,840 in Rock Springs.
| Metric | Wheatland | Rock Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $52,000 | $0 |
| Salary Needed | $45,000 | $33,840 |
| Household Income | $54,000 | $69,168 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Wheatland runs warmer on average — a 50.8°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Wheatland comes out ahead with 297 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Wheatland sees 20.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Wheatland | Rock Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.80°F | °F |
| Summer High | 84.30°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 20.50°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 12.10 in | in |
| Snowfall | 20.90 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 297 | |
| Humidity | 50.00% | 83.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Wheatland has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,000 minutes (67 hours) per year compared to Rock Springs.
Wheatland scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Wheatland leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Wheatland | Rock Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 15 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 20.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 45.0/100 | 26.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 15.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Rock Springs is the larger city
— approximately 0.2x the population of Wheatland.
From a growth perspective, Wheatland is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Wheatland has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Wheatland | Rock Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,575 | 23,051 |
| Pop. Growth | — | — |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 35.9 |
| Unemployment | 3.80% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Wheatland
Advantages
Median home prices and overall cost of living are significantly lower than the US national average.
Extremely low crime rates provide a safe, secure environment for families and retirees.
Proximity to outdoor recreation, including Glendo State Park and excellent fishing and hunting grounds.
Strong community spirit and tight-knit rural culture with active local engagement.
Short local commute times with virtually no heavy traffic congestion.
Drawbacks
Limited local job diversification outside of agriculture, government, and healthcare.
Harsh winter weather conditions with potential for heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures.
Limited public transportation infrastructure, making personal vehicle ownership mandatory.
Fewer options for dining, arts, entertainment, and shopping within town limits.
Specialized healthcare and advanced medical treatments require travel to larger cities.
Rock Springs
Advantages
Affordable housing market with a median home value around $256,200.
Lower average rent for apartments compared to the national average, with 1-bedroom apartments averaging $846/month.
Shorter average commute times of 22.5 minutes compared to the national average.
Access to outdoor recreation, including Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area.
A strong sense of community rooted in a diverse historical immigrant population.
Drawbacks
High car dependency with low walkability and transit scores (Walk Score of 26).
Conflicting reports on crime rates, with some indicating rates higher than the national average.
Limited amenities and potentially lower quality of life scores in certain categories.
Population is projected to decline slightly annually.
No reliable data found for average individual salary or unemployment rate for the city.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Wheatland
#178Wyoming, USA
64.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$850
Avg Salary
$52,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
15 min
Transit Score
20.0/100
Walkability
45.0/100
Sunny Days
297/yr
Avg Temp
50.80°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
75
Business
60
Rock Springs
#318Wyoming, USA
60.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$846
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
95
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
26.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
65
Business
60
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Wheatland and Rock Springs.
Open Cost Calculator